Ride or Walk to School

Active Streets

Active play for your kids

By around two years of age, your children will most likely have mastered walking and will be ready to progress to the next stage of their physical and social development. From here, it’s important to introduce your kids to a range of activities and games that help develop their full range of fundamental movement skills(FMS).

You can play a vital role in encouraging children to be active each day. Getting involved in games and activities with the kids in your life is a great way to encourage them to be more active.

The right gear for the job

For active play, it is good to have the right toys and equipment. The best items are things that can be used for different ages and levels of ability, as well as being able to be used both indoors and out.

If you are concerned about a child’s development, parents can contact the ACT Government Child Development ServiceIntake Line on6205 1246.

Why not make use of everyday recyclable products like these:

Ice-cream containers as buckets or markers

Plastic containers or milk containers as skittles

Cardboard boxes as cars or tunnels

Empty food cartons as building blocks

Long cardboard cylinders as ‘horses’, golf sticks or hockey sticks

An old bed sheet as a parachute.

Games

You could try these great games and activities designed to encourage active play:

Throwing a ball into a bucket and varying the distance

Potato sack races

Parachute games

Running around with paper streamers

Catching games

Follow the leader games

Making an obstacle course

Kicking and throwing using a soft ball

Running and stopping

Hitting a soft ball

Blowing bubbles and trying to catch them before they pop

Going to the local park and taking a range of equipment with you.

For more information and examples of games you can play with toddlers, prechoolers and kindergarten children, check out the below factsheet.

More ideas for active play for toddlers and young children can be found here

Active play for indoor days

Most of us can easily think of active play games for the outdoors. But thinking of fun indoor activities for our kids can often be harder. So the next time the clouds are out or it’s too hot or cold or wet, give some of these indoor game activities a whirl – the kids will love them!

Throw soft balls into a bucket and vary the distance

Musical chairs

Dance to action songs

Follow-the-leader

Make an obstacle course

Play heads and shoulders, knees and toes

Act out a children's story book

Ten pin bowling in the hallway using recyclable bottles or cartons

Hide and seek

Jump or hop over a piece of rope or long piece of string. Count how many jumps/hops you can do in a minute, then try and better it!

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Good Habits for Life

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